Atlético de Madrid arrive at the Champions League league phase as fourth in LaLiga, seeking to write a new chapter in their history in the European competition. The Spanish club carries an old wound it has never been able to heal: despite reaching two Champions League finals, in 2014 and 2016, they have never managed to win the trophy. On both occasions, the opponent was Real Madrid, who defeated the colchoneros in both finals.
The article highlights that striker Alexander Sørloth arrives in great form for this new phase of the competition. The Norwegian player has been one of Diego Simeone's side's main offensive weapons, contributing important goals that helped Atlético secure qualification for the Champions League league phase.
With this new edition of the Champions adopting a league format instead of traditional groups, Atlético will need to face various European opponents before potentially reaching the decisive stages. The expectation is that the Madrid side, historically known for their defensive solidity, will finally manage to break the cycle of failures in the competition that has haunted the club for almost a decade.
